Chronicle on Cuba - May 2008

Security

May 14: The first contingent of Cuban police experts arrived in Venezuela with the task of designing a training program for the new Venezuelan National Police Force. The Cuban police delegation is led by Ramón Rodríguez Curbelo, chief of the National Revolutionary Police of Cuba who will be in charge of a three-month training program that will take place in Cuba. The arrival of Rodríguez Curbelo to Caracas coincides with a similar mission by agents of the Nicaraguan Police that will also conduct training courses for their Venezuelan counterparts. ''In June, July and August, institutional visits will take place to highly experienced police organizations that have shown great results in training officers of communitarian police forces such as Cuba and the revolutionary police of Nicaragua; both successful models,'' Venezuela's Minister of the Interior, Ramon Rodríguez Chacín, said at a recent press conference. (The Miami Herald, 14/5/08)

May 23: Cuban President Raul Castro led the military ceremony of change of command to the Central Army Chief, and expressed his security that those troops won't disappoint the people. At a letter read in the activity, Raul Castro said, "with the unity characterized by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), along with the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) and the Revolution chief Fidel Castro, we will be unbeatable."Summarizing the military parade in the Cuban province of Matanzas, broadcast by the TV main news program, Division General Raul Rodriguez was appointed as chief of command, substituting Lieutenant General Joaquin Quintas. The outgoing officer was also appointed Deputy FAR Minister, whereas the Council of State bestowed him the Maximo Gomez First Degree Order. After inspecting the troops, Raul Castro met with presidents of the provincial Defense Councils that make up the Central Army and at the same time are the First PCC Secretaries in those provinces. (Prensa Latina, 24/5/08)